The gun weighed heavily on Akari's hands, her fingers tightly wrapped around the cold metal. Yet, despite the danger in front of her, she hesitated to take action. The dark figure stood in the middle of the road, his features obscured by the shadows. Duri had his hand on her gun, silently urging her to lower it. He spoke with intrigue in his tone and kept his gaze fixed on the mysterious figure. As he adjusted his blazer, his eyes never wavered from their target, an indication of his readiness for any potential threat. The air was thick with tension, and Akari couldn't help but feel a prickling curiosity about the situation. She knew she needed to make a move, but Duri's intriguing tone and unwavering stance only added to the mystery, leaving her unsure of what to do next.
"Stay here, I will take care of this* he sly smirks, stepping out of the car, turning on the charm.
Akari placed her gun back on her ankle, turning to Omani. "is he always like that?" She watched Duri put on his charming act.
"He has to put on a show" Omani's smooth voice lingered, like a confession.
Akari looked back at Duri, his perfect smile in place with his perfect fingers, flattering around, casting his spell on the dark figure, who had no reaction to him.
"You and Duri aren't really twins, right?" she asked Omani, her eyes still on Duri.
"adopted," he answered.
"Tough luck" Akari chuckled, Omani let out a soft chuckle.
A deep understanding settled in the car, when shot fired, rattling against the windshield. Duri yelled for them to get down, to take cover, but Akari's eyes hazed over, her gun already in her hand as she shot the dark figure in the head. Duri climbed into the car, reversing. He checked Omani, then Akari, but she hung out the window. The wind and Duri caught her hazed over, eyes pushed her hair back. Akari wanted for another rattle against the car. She saw the flashing in the distance; she took aim and shot. The rattling stopped.
Duri pulled into their apartment building, next to luxury cars and a clean parking lot. He turned to Akari, who looked relaxed, like she had just hung out the window of the car.
"Are you out of you fucking mind?" Duri hissed. His eyes were dark and dangerous in the silent car. "Who hangs out of a moving car with guns firing at them?" He turned to Akari.
She looked at him like he was overreacting. "The shooter is dead, are they?" Akari answered him.
"Get out," Duri growled, as he stepped out of the car.
Akari couldn't help but roll her eyes as she made a dramatic exit from the car, slamming the door behind her. Leaning against the vehicle, she tried to shake off the discomfort, rubbing her hands together. As she turned to the two men, she caught sight of Duri gently caressing Omani's face, gazing into his eyes with such intensity that it made Akari feel a knot forming in her throat.
Akari cleared her throat, getting their attention. "So," she clapped her hands together. "I'm gonna head out" she awkwardly shot fingers guns at them.
Duri grabbed Omani's hand and walked him to the elevator. "You are staying here tonight," Duri threw over his shoulder.
"That kind of inconvenient," both Akari and Omani at the same time.
"I mean, I don't have any clothes and anything," Akari muttered, rubbing her hands together.
"And we don't have an apartment ready" Omani looked at Duri, still holding each other's fingers.
"She can stay with Terry for the night since Dom died" Duri menacingly walked towards Akari, dropping Omani's hand. "but, tomorrow, Mama, we got some work for you* he glinted down at Akari.
She stared in awe for a moment before her face turned neutral and shrugged her shoulders, walking into the elevator that had just arrived. As they stepped into the elevator, Akari stood behind the two men. She looked at the ceiling, bouncing on her heels when she looked at them. Akari noticed Omani's hand slipping into Duri's pocket, resting there, but Duri didn't react.
There was a silence that settled on the elevator. It irked Akari to the core, so she blurted out whatever came to her mind. "Do you two share women?"
"What?" Duri turned to look at her, bewildered.
…
Duri thrust his oiled fingers into Omani's, deeply massaging his scalp. He watched his partner conceal a moan and Duri instantly realized he was in trouble for something, but he kept oiling Omani's scalp and rolling his head. Omani finally gasped and the tense in Duri's shoulders relaxed.
"We decided together, you promised me that" Omani's deep smooth voice always turned Duri's insides out.
"I know" Duri nodded, admitting he wasn't in the right mind to make that decision.
"And to bring this woman into our home, after today," Omani paused, letting the words sink in. "After what we know, that was reckless"
Duri stood, moving to face Omani on the floor of their bedroom suite. "I know, I fucked up, but we are safe and something told me, she would hopped town the moment she was free to, I had to take that opportunity" he said, caressed Omani's face which only made his partner melt into his palm.
Omani looked at Duri. Duri couldn't help but take in a deep breath at the sight of those eyes. "I don't care what you risk, just as long as we do it together," Omani hummed, "but that woman is manic" as he exhaled.
Duri turned, leaning his back against Omani's chest. "You saw that too," he said, remembering Akari hazed over eyes.
"Saw it," Omani scoffed, wrapping his arms around Duri. "It mesmerized me," he explained. "There was nothing behind those eyes but pure chaos," Omani said, but Duri could feel his heart picking up.
Duri was careful with his words. "It thrilled you, didn't it?" He waited for the answer, but Omani's heart gave it away.
"Eerily more than anything," Omani admitted.
Duri exhaled, looking at the perfect view of the Sandton lights. "Me too," he admitted.
"So what now?" Omani looked down at his partner.
"I have something planned for her," Duri nodded, a hint of gravel in his throat.
….
Duri just gave Akari an apartment number, a pair of keys, and sent her off. There was a lump in her throat, wondering if she would be safe for the night, but she ventured on. She came to an apartment and opened the door. On the couch were two men making out loudly with grunts and deep moans, which left Akari stunned. Akari chuckled, breathing a sigh of relief, and walked down the hall, hoping to find her room.
The room remained filled with someone's belongings as Akari pushed out the door. "I didn't get a chance to clean this out," Terry said, crossing his arms.
"Oh, I see you finally came up for air," Akari jokes, which made Terry chuckle.
"A sense of humor. I like that, much better than my last flatmate" Terry leaned against the doorframe. He was a bundle of muscle, deep skin, and a bright smile. "Terry" he offered his hand.
"Rain" Akari offered her hand.
"Oh, he was an ass," Akari nodded, looking at the room.
"Oh yeah, and also petty, arrogant, homophobic, reckless" Terry started listing off awful traits his last flatmate had. "It's the reason why he is dead," he finished off.
"But totally hot, right?" Akari looked at Terry.
"Oh yeah, fucking hot" Terry said, genuinely which chuckle in his voice. Terry's lover called him from the living room. "That's James, he will be visiting, a lot, I hope you don't mind"
"Please, enjoy," Akari said as Terry disappeared down the hallway.
Akari swiftly removed her clothes, revealing bruises and scars inflicted from being forcefully ejected from the car. She knew she would feel a bump, scar and bruise tomorrow. With a determined stride, she made her way to the en-suite, where she promptly turned on the shower. As the hot water cascaded down her back, the intense heat turned her skin a rosy hue. Despite the physical discomfort, the two men consumed her thoughts.
Her focus remained fixed on the two men, pondering whether they were aware of the impending threat looming over them. She questioned if they were engaging in a risky game of cat and mouse, oblivious to the danger lurking in the shadows.
The thought chilled her bones, because she knew of the stories that surrounded them, horror stories that were filled with death and torment. Akari didn't fear death but the torment, the painful indulges of her fear. She could take that pain. Akari shook her head and rolled out of the shower, barely putting on any clothes before laying in bed. It felt like cigarettes and drugs. It made her stomach turn but she swallowed it down, turned to her side and hoped for sleep and no more nightmares.